By Marianne Fuglsang Welling Farsinsen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs

Kathryn Hess Bellwald is an internationally recognized mathematician with a broad profile, ranging from pure mathematics to interdisciplinary applications. 

In addition to being a skilled researcher, Kathryn Hess Bellwald is a strong role model and active in attracting and retaining women in mathematics.

Crucial results in geometry and topology

Hess completed her PhD at MIT in 1989 at the age of 21 with a dissertation where she proves the Ganea conjecture in rational homotopy theory. She subsequently worked on a wide range of topics in algebraic topology in general, including K-theory, model categories, Hochschild homology, and operads. One of her most striking achievements is her collaboration with William Dwyer where she describes the space of "long knots" in the form of one of ​the symmetries of "little discs operads", a result that continues to receive attention as the symmetries of this particular operad have proven to be crucial in the study of various natural objects in geometry and topology.

Her work has earned many accolades: In 2016, she was elected to the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, appointed a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, and she received an award as a distinguished speaker at the European Mathematical Society in 2017. In 2021, she gave an invited public lecture at the European Congress of Mathematicians. She was awarded the Chaire de la Vallée Poussin from the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve in 2023. In addition to a research career, Hess has served on many scientific advisory boards and committees internationally.

At the front in attracting and retaining female mathematicians

Kathryn Hess Bellwald has been a role model for many female mathematicians throughout her career. She has a keen eye for the necessity of attracting and retaining women in mathematics. She is a co-founder of the Women in Topology (WiT) network, and she organizes workshops such as Women in Computational Topology (WinCompTop), most recently at EPFL in 2023.

In addition to leading to concrete research results, these initiatives also facilitate the establishment of ​long-term collaborations across national borders. They have led to a very strong international network of women in topology, where Hess is one of the leading figures. She was appointed a Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics in 2024.

Hess is also known as a very good speaker with exemplary blackboard techniques, and she has repeatedly been recognized for her pedagogical skills: She received the Agepoly Award for Best Teacher at the Faculty of Basic Sciences at EPFL in 2005 and the "Polysphere d'Or" Agepoly Award for Best Teacher at EPFL in 2013. She thus far has had 24 PhD students.

"Kathryn Hess Bellwald is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of algebraic topology with significant contributions to the theoretical development of the field as well as innovative applications in various fields such as biological neural networks and nanoporous materials. As an established world-class mathematician, also in applications, she has helped legitimize applied algebraic topology as a research," says Lisbeth Fajstrup, Associate Professor Emerita who collaborates with Kathryn Hess Bellwald who visited Aalborg for the first time for a workshop in 2002 and has since revisited the university several times.

"It has been invaluable for the topology group here in Aalborg that she has shared her knowledge and her network with us. In addition, she has further contributed to the research environment here by organizing and inviting us to several conferences and scientific events. We are particularly grateful for her efforts to support other women in mathematics, both by acting as a mentor and role model and by organizing the Women in Topology network. We are incredibly happy and proud that Kathryn Hess Bellwald is receiving the honorary doctorate at Aalborg University," concludes Lisbeth Fajstrup.

The award to Professor Kathryn Hess Bellwald of an honorary doctor at AAU will take place at the AAU Annual Celebration on 17 April 2026.